ANANDALAYA

Periodic Test-1
Class : X
Subject : English Language & Literature M.M : 40
Date : 16-07-2022 Time: 2 hours
General Instructions:
1. The Question Paper contains three parts.
2. Part A- READING has 1 question. Attempt any 10 questions.
3. Part B- WRITING & GRAMMAR has 3 questions. Attempt all questions, as per specific instructions
given therein.
4. Part C- LITERATURE has 4 questions. Attempt all questions, as per specific instructions given therein.
SECTION A- READING (10 marks)
1. Read the passage given below : (10)
a) The Socotra dragon tree is an unusual tree, as it looks rather like an open umbrella. It is found
on the island of Socotra, off the coast of Africa. Although the island is nearer to Somalia than
Yemen, it actually belongs to the latter. The island has been separated from the mainland for
34 million years, and this has led to its unique flora. Of the 825 different plant species found
there, 37% do not occur anywhere else in the world, and the same is true of 90% of its
reptiles. Because of these factors, there is increased tourism to the area. While this is
improving the island’s economy, it has also resulted in more building work, which has had an
impact on the areas where the trees live.
b) Reaching an average height of ten metres, the trees are commonly found in the Haggeher
Mountains and the flat areas in the centre and east of the island. These regions experience
frequent low clouds at certain times of the year, which provide the trees with the moisture
they need. However, because of climate change, the amount of rain is decreasing, which
scientists think will have an effect on the trees. The dragon tree has been important for
centuries. The tree produces a sticky liquid called resin, and this is taken as a medicine by
people on the island, and in many parts of the world. As early as 60 CE, people referred to
this resin as cinnabar, and in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it was used to give a
rich colour to the world-famous violins made by the Stradivarius family.
c) The design of the tree’s leaves is important. They measure up to sixty centimetres long and
only three centimetres wide. When rain falls on the surface of each leaf, the long narrow
shape allows the tiny drops of water to run down to the roots of the tree. The leaves are
densely-packed, and provide shade for young trees growing beneath the adult tree. Socotra
dragon tree leaves have traditionally been harvested and used to make ropes. If there is
increased demand for ropes, the effect on the trees could be a concern.
d) Like the leaves, the flowers appear at the ends of the branches. They are small and greenish-
white in colour, and produce green berries which gradually turn black as they ripen. They
become orange when they are fully ripe. Farmers on the island feed the berries to their
animals as they are thought to be good for them. Eating too many though can cause sickness,
which is why they are only given in small quantities. If animals are allowed to feed in areas
where there are Socotra trees, there is a danger that young trees could be eaten before they
have the chance to develop.

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 e) The importance of the island of Socotra, and the smaller islands nearby, is recognised
internationally because of their unique plant and animal life. International commercial trade
in the various species found there is controlled and new nature zones have been created.
Researchers are working on projects to grow young trees, but widespread efforts are needed
in order to ensure that the Socotra dragon tree will survive for future generations.
Now answer ANY TEN questions from those given below.
i) Which country is the island of Socotra a part of?
ii) What enables the Socotra dragon trees to grow well in particular locations on the island?
iii) How is the substance that the Socotra dragon trees produce, used today?
iv) How do the leaves benefit Socotra dragon trees? Give two details.
v) How has increased human activity affected the growth and future Socotra dragon trees? Give
two details.
vi) What problem must people be aware of when feeding berries to their animals?
vii) What factors can negatively affect the future of the Socotra dragon trees? Give two details.
viii) Use the word ‘world-famous’ in paragraph b to create a meaningful sentence.
ix) Find an antonym of ‘unconventionally’ as it occurs in paragraph c.
x) Find a synonym of ‘accidentally’ as it occurs in paragraph d.
xi) Find an antonym of ‘limited’ as used in paragraph e.

SECTION B- WRITNG AND GRAMMAR (10 marks)

2. You are Anshul/Anshika Shukla, a student of class X and resident of 56 D, Ring Road, ITO, New (5)
Delhi, and wants to be a choreographer. Write a letter to The Director, National Institute of
Choreography, Noida, seeking information about their course, admission procedure, eligibility
criteria and other necessary details.
OR
You are Abhijay Prasad, Managing Director, New India Hotel, Goa. Write a letter to Sheeba
Mathews, Head Girl of Crescent Public School, Cochin, answering her queries about your
charges for hiring out your rooms, lawns, the catering costs per head, service charges and
advance to be paid. The school is planning to come on an educational trip to Goa.

3. The following passage is not edited. Each line has a mistake. Write the mistake and its correction (2)
against the correct number in your answer sheet. You don’t need to copy the question.
Mistake Correction
God like qualities are planted with us at birth. Ex. with in
They grow amid the thorns of our fault. Many of us (a)
look at ourselves and see only the thorn, the defects (b)
We despair, thinking such we cannot do anything good (c)
We neglect to water a good within us, and eventually it dies. (d)

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4. Read the dialogue and complete the passage given below. (3)

Teacher : Children, let us all pledge to save trees.

Children : Yes, madam, we all pledge to save our trees as the trees are the lungs of the city.
Teacher : Let us start today by planting a sapling.
The teacher asked all the children to pledge to save trees. The children replied affirmatively

(a) …………………… as the (b) …………………… Then the teacher said that

(c) ………………….. .
SECTION C- LITERATURE (20 marks)
5. Select ANY ONE extract and answer the questions in brief.
A) “The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.”
i) Of the many symbols the hemlock tree represents, which symbol did Frost draw upon in all (0.5)
likelihood, for this poem?
a) longevity b) togetherness c) healing d) protection
ii) Choose the option that lists the possible feelings of the poet prior to the experience shared in (0.5)
the poem.
1) Reassured 2) Disappointed 3) Curious 4) Demotivated
5) Thankful 6) Disheartened 7) Impulsive
a) 1, 3 & 7 b) 2, 4 & 6 c) 5 & 7 d) 1 & 3
iii) Identify the figure of speech in line 3. (1)
iv) Which action in the poem brought about a change in the poet’s attitude? (1)
v) What did the poet think of the day before the dust of snow fell on him? (1)
OR
B)
“Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.”

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 i) Choose the CORRECT statement about the given poem. (0.5)
a) Fire and ice are images—they help the readers visualise the power of nature over man.
b) Fire and ice are symbols—not of natural disasters, but of humanity‘s ability to create
disasters of its own.
c) Fire and ice are elements—not of Nature but man-made and possess the ability to create
havoc for mankind.
d) Fire and ice are agents—they change the thinking of mankind from negative to positive and
bring harmony.
ii) The poem is a _________, put across by the poet. (0.5)
a) powerful warning b) heart-felt apology c) earnest appeal d) vengeful threat
iii) What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? (1)
iv) How are ice and fire similar to each other though they have contradictory traits? (1)
v) Explain this line ‘I think I know enough of hate...’ (1)

6. Select ANY TWO questions and answer them in 30-40 words. (2x2)
i) Why would you not agree with Lencho calling the post office employees ‘a bunch of crooks’?
ii) How had the military generals treated Nelson Mandela earlier during his imprisonment? How
did their attitude change and why?
iii) What do you think the poet was probably doing when the dust of snow fell on him?

7. Select ANY ONE question and answer in 100-120 words. (6)

i) Are there people like Lencho in the real world? What kind of a person would you say he is?
How does this impact the world?
ii) Nelson Mandela once said, “The greatest glory in living lies not, in never falling, but in rising
every time you fall.” Write a short story about someone who failed at something but found the
strength to get up, fight back and be successful.

8. Select ANY ONE question and answer in 100-120 words. (6)

i) “Tricki’s only fault was greed”, says the narrator. And that of Mrs. Pumphrey was over-
indulgence. How can these character traits lead to a person’s downfall? Discuss with regard to
the text.
ii) Imagine that one of Mr. Herriot’s partners can understand the language of dogs and listens to
Tricki on his last night with them.
a) What might Tricki share about his experience?
b) How would he evaluate it in comparison to his home experience?

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